Hand strengtheners are great news for weightlifters. They can boost your grip strength for deadlifts, and even eliminate the need for straps and hooks while lifting.
But they’re not just for weight lifting. Anyone can benefit from them, even sports like golf, rock climbing, and rowing also require having a good strong grip. And for anyone with a weak grip, they can be essential.
A good hand strengthener can improve your dexterity and hand accuracy, enhance your forearm muscularity, and, moreover, prevent any injuries that might occur due to weak grips.
The good news is that there are plenty of great hand strengtheners out on the market today. The better news is that we’ve been going through them, and after much deliberation, we were able to handpick our top 7 favorites.
We’ll be showing you our reviews on these very shortly. And, you’ll be pleased to hear, they’re all bestsellers with retailers.
After that, we’ll be presenting you with our in-depth guide to hand strengtheners.
This will include a greater exploration of the benefits you can get from hand strengthening, types of grip, what to look for in a hand strengthener, and how to train your grip and hand strength.
Let’s get straight to it.
OUR TOP PICK
IronMind Captains of Crush Hand Gripper
EDITORS CHOICE
Longang Hand Grip Strengthener with Adjustable Resistance
BEST VALUE
PROHANDS PRO Hand Exerciser
OUR TOP PICK
IronMind Captains of Crush Hand Gripper
What blew our minds about this hand strengthener is not so much how many sales it has had, though it’s had plenty, but rather the customer feedback.
This little beauty earned a full 5 out of 5 stars from its many customers at Amazon, not to mention how much people are raving about it elsewhere on the net!
They’re made right here in the USA, but they’re known and used worldwide.
And while similar products were made in the past, they were mere toys, and it was IronMind who took this concept and really brought it into its own as a tool for hand strengthening.
They’re particularly well made, using precision manufacturing.
They are composed of knurled aircraft-grade aluminum handles and IronMind’s own trademarked GR8 springs.
These springs are designed to offer a consistent and precise level of resistance and are also at the same time very durable, and able to withstand a lot of squeezing and unsqueezing without deteriorating.
You can buy them at different levels of resistance, starting at 60 pounds, and then going up in 11 steps up to a whopping 365 pounds.
And the best thing about it is you don’t have to pay any extra money for the stronger resistance grippers – they all cost the same.
We’re the first to admit that they’re rather expensive compared to some of the other hand strengtheners out there, but when you know you’re paying for the original and the best, then there’s really nothing to complain about.
Especially for those who are really serious about improving their grip strength.
Pros
The original and gold standard in hand strengthening
Well made with IronMind’s own trademarked GR8 springs
Available to buy in 11 different resistance levels
Remarkably positive customer feedback & ratings
Cons
Premium product at a premium price
EDITORS CHOICE
Longang Hand Grip Strengthener with Adjustable Resistance
This hand strengthener has been simply flying off the shelves. It earned well over 4,500 individual customer ratings on the Amazon page alone.
And better yet, customer feedback has been really positive, earning 4 and a half stars out of 5.
This hand strengthener really improves your crush grip, which, as we discuss later, is the grip you use to lift barbells. But that’s not all it’s good for.
It also helps your wrist strength and your finger strength.
It features an ergonomic non-slip handle, and an enhanced spring to provide the resistance.
As we discuss in our hand strengthener guide a little later on, we recommend starting your hand strengthening exercises at a low resistance level wherever possible, and gradually increasing the resistance as your hand strength improves.
And this is easily achieved with this particular hand strengthener.
You can start your hand strengthening regime at just 11 pounds of resistance.
And as your hand strength increases, you can bump it up in little increments. And this increased resistance can go up to as much as 132 pounds.
All you have to do to increase the resistance is tweak a little dial. No having to buy a new hand strengthener every time you want to increase the resistance level.
We’re quite partial to the blue one, very easy to spot. And it’s super affordable too.
Pros
Really improves your crush grip
Also helps with wrist & finger strength
Gradually increase the resistance level
Cons
Some customers have complained about the dimensions of the hand strengthener, so to ensure you don’t run into the same problem, please take a look at the product dimensions
BEST VALUE
PROHANDS PRO Hand Exerciser
Here’s another great best selling hand strengthener – and this one has a difference.
Strictly speaking, this product is more of a finger strengthener than a hand strengthener.
You can work out your fingers individually, or you can use all four, and in doing so, work on your crush grip for barbell lifting. It can also help your wrist and forearm strength too.
But of course, as a finger strengthener, its stand out feature is how it can help to strengthen your individual fingers.
This is great for your pinch grip when you want to grip something between your finger and thumb rather than against your palm.
The Prohands Pro hand exerciser is a great choice for musicians who have to work their fingers individually, whether your jam is guitar or piano.
Regular use can also improve your dexterity too – also great news for musicians.
The clear advantage of a hand strengthener like this one, which targets individual fingers, is that the stronger fingers don’t compensate for the weaker ones, and you get a more effective workout.
It has a good quality construction, composed of durable ABS plastic and stainless steel springs.
It’s available in different levels of resistance, starting at the light level, which is 5 pounds of resistance per finger, and going up to as much as XX-heavy tension which is 13 pounds per finger.
If you don’t know what level of resistance you need, or if you know you need to start at a low level of resistance, you can always buy a pack of hand exercisers.
You can buy a set of two, three, four, or five.
Pros
Original manufacturer of this type of hand strengthener
Excellent hand and finger strengthener for musicians
Top-quality construction with stainless steel springs
Available in several different levels of resistance
Cons
There are cheaper versions of this hand strengthener made by other manufacturers, but this is the original and remains just as popular as ever
RUNNER UP
GD Grip Premium Hand Grip Exerciser and Strengthener
On the face of it, this hand strengthener seems to have a lot in common with the very prevalent R-shaped hand strengtheners, like the Longang Hand Grip Strengthener we showed you earlier.
It’s intended to improve your crush grip strength, the grip you use when you hold something in your fist.
And in working on this type of grip strength, you would also simultaneously be working on your wrist and forearm strength.
And like the R-shaped tension spring hand strengtheners, you can also adjust the resistance level according to your hand strength fitness level.
This way you can start off small, and gradually build your way up as your hand strength improves. To adjust the resistance, all you have to do is turn the dial.
However, the GD Grip outperforms regular R-shaped hand strengtheners in its durability.
Instead of using springs that could break and low-quality ABS plastic, it instead uses premium engineered plastic and a strong compression spring that will last in excess of 10 years.
It’s available in 4 different versions, distinguishable by their resistance levels.
There’s the Pro-E, which is best suited for those with weak hand strength, starting at a resistance level of 17 pounds, going up to 79 pounds, then there’s the Pro, which goes from 19 pounds to 99 pounds, or you could go for the Ultra-70 which goes from 44 pounds to 154 pounds, or finally, the Pro-70 which goes from 55 pounds to 154 pounds.
It won’t squeak, like other hand strengtheners sometimes do, and it comes with a wrist strap, so you can still keep it on your person when you need your hands for something else.
Customer feedback has been really positive on this hand strengthener, with customers praising it for range of motion, durability, ease of use, being ergonomic, stability, and comfort.
Pros
Improves crush grip strength
Improves wrist & forearm strength
The resistance is adjustable
Amazing durability, will last 10 years
4 different versions to choose from
Cons
Some customers had problems when they were using it for support grip strength rather than crush grip strength (more on that in our guide to hand strengtheners later)
RUNNER UP
IronMind Twist Yo’ Wrist
Now, this is a new kind of hand strengthener. And it comes from IronMind, the creators of the IronMind Captains of Crush Hand Gripper.
It consists of two 4 inch diameter wheels, and rolled up between them is a climbing grade cord with a hook on the end.
What you’re meant to do is twist the two dials to wrap the cord around the middle, and in doing so lift the attached weight.
This device does a lot more than improve your grip strength.
You’re working your entire lower arm from your elbows to your fingertips. Consistent use will show improvements in your strength, your endurance, and your muscle mass.
It’s naturally adjustable in terms of resistance level because it’s you who chooses what weights to use with it.
However, this also means that you either have to have your own weights that you can use it with, or that your gym allows you to use this hand strengthener with their weights, which they may not necessarily be happy about.
It’s a great training tool for any activity that requires good lower arm strength, such as for climbing or for martial arts, etc.
This, unfortunately, is one of the more expensive hand strengtheners out on the market.
However judging from the customer feedback, many people seem to feel it’s certainly worth the money.
On Amazon, it earned an average customer rating of 4 and a half stars out of 5, even after well over 100 individual customer ratings.
Pros
Works your entire lower arm
Excellent customer feedback
Improves crush, pinch & support grip
You choose the resistance (weight) level
Cons
Premium product at a premium price
RUNNER UP
NSD Power Essential Spinner Gyro Hand Grip Strengthener and Wrist & Forearm Exerciser
Here’s another great best selling hand strengthener.
This one has seen well over 2000 individual customer ratings on Amazon, and better yet, the average customer rating still comes out at an impressive 4 and a half stars out of 5.
The NSD Spinner is a ball with an inner gyroscopic rotor with stainless steel axle. Your task is to rotate the ball in your hands to increase the revolutions per minute (RPM) of the gyroscope.
You’ll feel the burn in just a minute of spinning, and the recommended regime is to use it for just one minute each day.
This is because of the ample resistance formed as the gyroscope spins, it can generate 26.8 lb-in of torque at 10,000 RPM, but it can spin up to 15,000 RPM.
Using the NSD Spinner can improve both hand and wrist strength, as it works out your crush grip and support grip (more on that later).
This is one of the more fun hand strengtheners out there, and using it feels more like playing a game than working out.
It’s easy to use, you simply pull the string to get the gyroscope started. Plus it’s really compact, you can easily stuff it in your gym bag and take it with you anywhere.
If you want to compare different versions of gyroscopic hand strengtheners, there’s a handy guide on the product page on Amazon. Plus there’s some great tips on there for using one.
While there are many similar gyroscope based hand strengtheners out on the market, this one is certainly one of the best.
It’s rugged and durable, with a break-resistant build, and a military-grade plastic shell. It will last twice as long as it’s counterparts.
Amazon occasionally has deals on this product – certainly worth a look.
Pros
Great fun to use!
Really compact & portable
Strengthens hand and wrist
Strengthens crush and support grip
Cons
Some people have found it tricky to start
RUNNER UP
LDGFLY Hand Grip Strengthener Kit
With this last entry, we’re really going out with a bang. It’s not just one hand strengthener, but an entire hand strengthening kit, compiled of several separate items designed to improve your hand strength in a variety of different ways.
This kit includes an R-shaped hand strengthener with adjustable resistance, much like the Longang Hand Grip Strengthener we showed you earlier.
And it features a finger strengthener much like the PROHANDS PRO Hand Exerciser we showed you earlier, to exercise individual fingers.
But it also includes some elements we haven’t had the chance to show you previously.
There are three extension bands, which have hoops for your fingertips, and you must stretch them as best you can. These come in different levels of resistance, 6.6 pounds, 8.8. Pounds, and 11 pounds.
Then there are the silica gel donuts. You squeeze the donuts to work on your crush grip. These are at three different levels of resistance, 30 pounds, 40 pounds, and 50 pounds.
And with the bright coloring of each included item, you can be sure to never lose any of them.
Included in the box, you also get a drawstring bag to keep all the items of the kit together, and a handy user guide that shows you exactly how to use all of the items in your kit.
It’s fantastic value for money.
Pros
Entire hand & finger strengthening kit
Different levels of tension & resistance
Brightly colored & easy to spot
Fantastic value for money
Cons
Customers who are using the kit for rehabilitation say they would have preferred some lower resistance items in the kit
Best Hand Strengtheners Reviewed Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your full in-depth guide to hand strengtheners.
Benefits of Using Hand Strengtheners
The benefits of using hand strengtheners are many fold. Let’s take a look at some of them.
Boosting of grip strength for deadlifts
We all know how important it is to have a good deadlift grip. But that on its own is not quite enough. You need to have a strong squeeze on that barbell. And that’s something you can achieve with regular use of a hand strengthener.
You’ll be able to keep the barbell secure and tight to your body, and need never fail a deadlift grip again.
Many people who want to lift weights but struggle with weak hands like to use deadlift straps and hooks to keep hold of the barbell while weight lifting.
However, there is an issue with doing this, and it’s over-reliance. Don’t make your hand grip be the limiting factor holding back your strength gains.
Sure it’s ok to use deadlift straps and hooks in the early days of your weight lift training, but you really should solve this before it becomes an issue.
Prevention of injuries caused by weak grips
If you have problems with your grip, you’ll be keen to solve this issue as soon as is possible.
Weak grips can often cause serious injury if you happen to be holding something rather heavy and your hand grip suddenly fails you.
Moreover, if you ever find yourself struggling with a hand injury, your physiotherapist or doctor may well advise you to exercise with a hand strengthener to get your hands back to where they should be.
Better dexterity and hand accuracy
Like with any other exercise, regular usage leads to better results. Not only do your hand muscles improve, but they also boost the stability and dexterity of your hands.
This can come in handy for all sorts of different sports and activities, from darts and archery all the way through to playing certain musical instruments.
Enhancement of forearm muscularity
While hand strengtheners exist primarily to help you to improve the smaller muscles in your hands, it’s certainly worth noting that they can also help to build more muscle in your forearms too.
Types Of Grip Strength
The Crush Grip
This is the main kind of grip that springs to mind when you think about gripping something. It’s the force used to hold items between your palm and your fingers, in a fist.
To work on this kind of grip strength, we can recommend using coil hand strengtheners, such as our number pick, the IronMind Captains of Crush Hand Gripper.
It’s worth noting at this point that this is the type of grip strength required to squeeze stress balls.
The Pinch Grip
Your pinch grip describes your ability to hold things without the need for your palms, using the strength in your thumbs and fingers alone.
Hand strengtheners for this kind of grip will focus on finger muscles and can include finger stretching resistance bands, silicone grip rings, and finger spring exercisers.
The Support Grip
The support grip, in contrast to the other two types of grip, is all about grip endurance. Or rather, how long can you keep your grip on something before you get grip fatigue.
What To Look For In A Hand Strengthener
Resistance Levels
This is the key spec to look at when deciding what hand strengthener to buy.
Our recommendation for beginners is that you start small, at a resistance level of about say 25 pounds, possibly 30 pounds.
Then as you improve, you can work your way up through different resistance levels. You know, some advanced lifters can reach levels as high as 250 pounds!
Hand Strengthener vs Finger Strengthener
As we discussed in our section on different types of grip strength, different hand strengtheners can have very different benefits.
Most hand strengtheners are designed to work on your crush grip, which is the grip you need to work on for lifting barbells.
If, however, you want to work on your finger strength or your pinch grip then you should shop accordingly and buy a finger strengthener instead, such as specially designed resistance bands.
Adjustability
If you intend to work hard on your hand and finger strength over time, you might want to consider a hand strengthener that features adjustable resistance levels.
That way you can start off with a small resistance level, and build your way up to something far more impressive,
How To Train Your Grip And Hand Strength
Somethings are better demonstrated than merely described, so, here’s a link to a great YouTube video that will show you 10 great hand, wrist, grip, & forearm strengthening exercises that you can do at home:
Final Word
We hope that you’ve enjoyed this article, and that you’ve found a hand strengthener that you like the sound of.
There are many benefits to hand strengthening, and just a little bit of exercise each day can make a huge difference.
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